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Tuesday, 14 August 2018

Magical Dolls: Egyptian Paddle Dolls for Fertility

This is the oldest doll in the collection of the Museum of Childhood. It is a paddle doll that was made in Ancient Egypt in about 1300BCE. It is carved from wood in the shape of a paddle, which is where the name comes from.

There is also an Egyptian paddle doll in the Cuming Museum collection, which you can view online. The Cuming's website describes it as being a ceremonial object with a magical function as well as being just a child's toy. It says:

One side has the faint remains of a painted figure of the hippopotamus fertility goddess Taweret, who protected women during childbirth.
The doll would originally have had a 'wig' of clay beads strung on cord attached to the head. Paddle dolls were a stylised depiction of a woman with an emphasis on the hips and pubic area. They were used as toys but had a ritualistic and protective function, particularly as a fertility symbol.

The Petrie Museum of Egyptian archaeology has several examples. You can see some in the museum or view them online. Paddle dolls were often painted red and black and sometimes had exaggerated drawings of the female genital region, which makes sense if they were meant as fertility symbols.

My book is officially published on August 31. On September 8; I will be reading from Pagan Portals - Poppets and Magical Dolls at Wicca Moon, 50 Well Hall Road, London SE9 6SH at 2pm. For further details contact Shirlee@wiccamoon.org.uk, call 0208 850 7803 or visit www.facebook.com/WiccaMoonEltham/or www.wiccamoon.co.uk